Frequency-compensated flowmeter system



Dec. 1 1959 R. G. BALLARD 2,914,944

FREQUENCY-COMPENSATED FLOWMETER SYSTEM Filed June 12. 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 fl /za www "30 Dscrlmmcor Amplifier Ne+work Frequency Compensuing lnventor:

Roberr G. BaHurd by 5 His AHrney Dec. l, 1959 R. G. BALLARD 2,914,944

FREQUENCY-COMPENSATED FLOWMETER SYSTEM Filed June l2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Fig.2

Genercor United States Patent 2,914,944 q 1 FREQUENCY-GOWENSATED rLoWMEfr-ER SYSTEM m y l RobertG. Ballard, Saugus,v Mass.,fassignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of NewzYork Application .muev 12, i956, serial No. I590,850

s claims. (c1. 73-`194) The present invention relates to mass flowmeters and, more particularly, to mass owrnetersystems wherein deleterious effects of frequency variations in 'power supplies are nullied. H 'f Accurate measurement-and control of fluid ow with reference to mass, as `distinguished 'from volume, e may be performed advantageously with apparatus wherein angular momentum phenomenal are involved. In such apparatus, all of the measured fluid is accelerated to a uniform linear speed about a given axis by a fluid yimpeller which `is rotated about that axis at a constant speed. And, measurements representative of the power required for suchacceleration `r representative of the power lost in predetermined deceleration of `the iluid after it has been so accelerated are indicative of the mass flow characteristics. However, accuracies may be impaired if the impeller speed 'of rotation is permitted to vary, and when synchronous electric impeller motors have been employed, it has also beennecessary lto 'provide associated power` supplies having closely .regulated output frequenciesl `In practice of the present teachings, such synchronous impeller'motors are likewise utilized, although the requirement for precisely regulated power supplies is relaxed or obviated.` i

` Accordingly,-it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide improved mass ilow measurement apparatus of the `angular'rnomenturn type wherein effects of impeller speed 'variations .are compensated automatically.

A further object is. to provide va mass vilow measuring system powered `by the electrical output of a turbo gen- `erator ydriven' by `the fluid under measurement and V.compensated for frequency errors in the generator output.

By way of a summary account of the invention in :one of its aspects, a iluid ow path to Vbe Vinvestigated is provided with botha turbine-generator and `an angular-momentum mass owmeter. Fluid impinging upon the generator turbine wheel causes 'itto turn the generator rotor `and to induce output signals of frequencies vrelated to the turbine wheel speeds, and these output signals are employed to excite the synchronous motor of almass OWmeterimpeIIer which then also. rotates at speeds related to these frequencies. Fluid which has been accelerated by `the llowmeter impeller` is caused to react with a vrestrained ilowmeter turbine', ina known manner, and the angular ydeflections :ofthe turbine are measured to characterize the instantaneous mass rate of flow values.

However, becauseof -the 'aforesaid` frequency and impeller speed variations with varying fluid ow, these `measurements :tend to be .erroneous, with the deection's beingless thanfthe proper values at low frequencies and greater at high frequencies. lRather than indicating these 'erroneous turbine deflections directly, they are converted into electrical signals and Vcompared fwith signals repre- 4sentative 'of orientations of aservo-driven pointer shaft. ADifference signals are applied to a 'compensating netiivork of -re'actancs which automatically factor in corrections for both frequency'l'errors "and the Iexistingrnass 2,914,944 Patented Dec. l, 1,959

cluding portion of this specification. However, both as to organization `and mode `of operation, and further in relation to objects and advantages thereof, this l`invention may best be understood through reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with vthe accompanyings, in which:

Figure 1 provides a diagram of a mass flowmeter sys- Vtem in which the Vpresent teachings of compensation are practiced; 'I

`Figure 2 presents a detailed schematic diagram of a frequency compensating networksuch as that included in the system of Figure 1; and

Figures 3, l4, and 5 are vector diagrams of operation of thenetwork-of Figure Zat `frequencies of 55, 59, and 65 cycles per second, respectively.

i The embodying system in Figure l is that of a selfpowered massfow measuring system such as iinds appli'- cation in remote portions of a gaseous fluid line' inaccessible to commercial electrical supply facilities; 4Ifn the flow conduit 1 `there are `disposed serially a turbogenerator 2 and mass filow detector 3, 'the latter being `electrically excitedby the turbo-generator output. Fluid coursing through conduit 1 in the direction ofV arrows 4 first encounters a fixed annularvset of skewed van'es 5 in the upstream portion of the"turbogenera'tor 2, and after being deflected into angular travel by these vanes, next impinges upon` the buckets of 'a rotatableturbine vwheel 6.A As the turbine wheel 6 is rotated at a high speed by this fluid motive action, it turns the attached permanently-magnetized generator rotor 7 and causes the magnetic eld thereofto intercept and induce output signals in the generator statorwindings 8. Alternating current signals of frequency'depending upon the turbine wheel speed, and thus also depending upon the iluid flow, are delivered by the stator winding output leads `9.

Downstream in relation to the turbo-generator the mass ow `characteristics of" the huid 4are sensed by the flowmeter detector 3, which is -of the axial-flow type such as is disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,714,310 `for Mass Rate Flowmeter assigned to the Vsame assignee as that of the present application. Upon passing the annular array of upstream straightening vanes 1-0 in this ilowmeter, vthe fluid enters the longitudinal peripheral passages of a generally cylindrical impeller 11 which is rotated by a synchronous motor 12. In these passages, which are separated by partitions 13, all of the iluid is accelerated to a substantially uniform linear speed (angular speed X radi'- us) .and thus possesses an angular momentum related to its mass. Subsequently, the iluid is decelerated `in a turbine 14 having a construction 'like that of impelle` 11 except that it is resiliently restrained from angular movement by va spiral spring 15 -which is mounted `between it and the shaft 16 fixed with the stationary outer `housing 17. As `the lfluid accelerated :by the impeller impinges upon the turbine partitions .18 between its flow passages, `angular .-momentum is released to the turbine and it de,- ilect'szagainstthe force of restraining spring 15 by amounts depending upon the instantaneous mass rateof luidflow. Ihis angular clellectionV from a zero .flow position yis'detected by andcharacterized in rthe electrical output signal vof a ,pickoff or transmitter 19 which, :in the interest of simplicity and clarity is schematically portrayed in the fixed stator winding 20 andthem'ovable turbinemounted rotor winding 2'1. Transmitter 19,is vof a common type producing A.C. electrical signals varying linamplitude with angular displacements between its rotor and stator. `Bothlthestatorexcitationwinding 20 of'transmitter A1*'9 u and the stator winding 22 of the synchronous impeller motor 12 are energized by the frequency-variable output of turbo-generator 2, whereby it follows that the frequency of output signals fromtransmitter 19 and the speed of rotation of impeller 1.1 vary slightly with the changes in turbo-generator output frequency. It should be apparent that as the impeller speed varies somewhat in this manner, vthe turbine deflections, and hence the transmitter output signals, can also vary, even though the mass rate of fluid flow remains the same. This error is thus related to the frequency deviations in the generator output, but it is important to note that it is also related to the instantaneous mass rate of fluid flow. For example, with zero flow, it matters not what the impeller speed maybe, because the turbine will not deflect at all under that flow condition. As the mass flow rate increases from zero flowto a low value at which only a small turbine angular deflection could result, then the absolute value of the aforesaid error due to frequency deviations is likewise small. At maximum mass flow, however, the absolute value of this error in turbine deilection or flowmeter output signal is considerably greater. Evaluations have demonstrated that the absolute values of the error which should be compensated'vary in a somewhat linear manner from zero to maximum mass flow rate. Accordingly, it is not sufficient to introduce corrections proportioned to frequency alone, and through practice of my teachings, both factors are automatically and uniquely brought into play.

Thus, it is that my system depicted in Figure l further includes a remote servo-driven pointer 23 cooperating with a dial 24, an electrical servo motor 2S actuating 'the pointer, an electrical pick-olf or repeater 26 movable lwith the pointer and servo motor, an amplifier 27 energizingthe servo motor, and a frequency compensating network 28 responding to the generator output and to the pointer position and to signals from transmitter 19 and repeater 26. The repeater or electrical pick-off 26 is of a construction and possesses a mode of operation like the flowmeter pick-off 19. Its stator winding 29 is excited by the same frequency variable source appearing in leads 9, and its rotor winding 30, which moves angularly with pointer shaft 31, produces output signals characterizing the angular orientations of the rotor shaft relative to a zero ow indication position. Pick-off rotor windings 21 and 30 are coupled in series opposition, such that the difference signals are applied to amplifier 27 through network 28 via leads 32. When the pointer shaft 31 is in angular correspondence with orientations of the flowmeter turbine shaft 16, then these difference signals -are reduced to zero, of course, but at other times their difference signals will be of one or an opposite phase and of amplitudes proportional to the lack of angular correspondence. As is customary with pick-off units of this type and circuit interconnection, their output vs. angular deflection characteristics are made the same, preferably linear, and exactness of electrical phasing is achieved with the aid of the usual capacitors, not illustrated.

Network 28, which is described more fully hereinafter, responds to the frequency of the 4excitation from leads 9,. and also to a compensating or regulating effect brought about by mechanical movement of pointer shaft 31.

Dashed-line 31' indicates the control by the pointer shaft 31. Through this network which acts as a signal genr erator, a resultant fully-compensated control signal isl applied to the discriminator-amplifer 27, which is of the common type yielding a power-amplified output of' one or an opposite phase depending upon the phase of' the appliedcontrol signal. This amplified output energizes the rotor winding 33 of servo motor 25 such that itrotates pointer shaft 31 upon interaction with the field from the motor stator winding 34. Pointer23 thus continuously follows the angular movements of the flow- Y from the generator.

4 meter turbine and indicates the measured mass rate of flow.

In Figure 2 the elements of compensating network 28 are detailed. The circuitry there functions both as a frequency bridge, with the full bridge output signal appearing across terminals 35 and 36, and as a special voltage divider, with the further-compensated net output signal appearing between bridge terminal 35 and the variable tap 37 of the resistance 38 coupled across the bridge terminals. Excitation from the frequency-variable source 2 is applied to the bridge across the remaining terminals 39 and 40. One of the bridge legs includes the inductance L1 and the capacitance C1, which are series-tuned to the frequency sought to be held by the generator 2, such as cycles per second. I n the opposite bridge leg are a corresponding inductance L2 and capacitance C2 which are likewise series-tuned to the same frequency. The remaining bridge impedances 'are resistive in character. Vector diagrams appearing in Figures 3, 4, and 5 show the voltage amplitude and phase relationships appearing throughout the bridge at applied generator frequencies of 55, 59 and 65 cycles per second, respectively. Referring to Figure 3, for example, it is perceived that at 55 cycles the generator voltage V9 applied acrossy network terminals y39 and 40 results in a current I1 flowing .through impedances R1, R1', L1, and C1 to occasion the indicated Voltage drops I1R1, I1R1', and I1(XL1-XC1). In the opposite bridge path the voltage drops occasioned by the current I2 are I2(XL2-XC2), IZRZ', and I2R2. Bridge output voltages appearing across terminals 35 and 36 are represented by the dashed-line vector VB. At 59 cycles, the bridge output voltage VB is shown in Figure 4 as approaching zero. And, in Figure 5, for the condition at cycles, the bridge output voltage VB is of an opposite phase though like magnitude to that appearing at 55 cycles.

The network output signal is not that between points 35 and 36 under all conditions but, instead, ,is that between point 35 and the variable tap position 37 along the resistance 38. As was stated earlier, no correction or compensation is desired or required at the condition of zero flow through flowmeter detector 3, hence tap 37 'should then be at the same potential as' bridge terminal 35. On the other hand, at maximum flow, the tap 37 should be brought to near the maximum potential at terminal 36, with the tap being moved along the regulating resistance 38 in a substantially linear manner as measured flow increases from zero to a maximum. Movement of the tap 37 in this desired manner is conveniently accomplished by mechanical coupling thereof with the servo-driven output pointer shaft 31', there being ample torques from that shaft to actuate the potentiometer tap without detracting from system accuracy and speed of response. l

As the generator output frequency falls below a predetermined value, such as 60 cycles per second, the synchronous motor driving the flowmeter impeller rotates more slowly and the sensing turbine deflects less for the ysame mass rate of flow. The voltage pick-off sensing this deflection then yields avsmaller output, and, were this directly telemetered to an indicator, the reading would be lower than the truervalue. `Instead, the position of the indicator shaft as sensed by its associated pick-off is compared with the flowmeter pick-off signal and to their difference is added the compensating signal which is of phase and amplitude characterizing the lowered frequency The compensated signal is thus increased to make up for the drop in output from the flowmeter detector. Through the discriminator-amplifier, this 4compensated signal controls'the servo motor such that it veffects appear when the generator output frequency in- -crease s,.' When 4it 4also occurs that the mass rate of fluid flow changes in one or another` sense, then the compensating network potentiometer is also reset b y the indicator shaft movement, yielding a greater output signal for -increased-flow and decreased `output signal for decreased ow. The two compensations, for frequency and mass rate of flow, are interdependent for reasons `already expressed, and the system operates accurately while the mass flow rate and generatorfrequency are shifting simultaneously. t d y In certain respects the particular preferred embodiments here illustrated and described may be altered. For example, signal generators of forms other thanhthat of the pick-offs shown may be employed, one desirable unit of a known ytype `including excitation and outputwindings both mounted on a stator core and cooperatingwith an unwoundrotor structure made of magnetic material. The frequency-compensating network may of course include tuned elements in diiferent circuit relationships, also. Thus, it .should be yapparent that the specific features herein disclosed are of a descriptive rather than a limiting nature, and that various changes, combinations, substitutions, or modifications may be employed Vin accordance with these teachings without departing either in` spirit or scope `from this invention in its broader aspects;

What l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is: l'

l. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a mass dow detector having a rotatable impeller for accelerating all of a flowing fluid to predetermined linear `speeds about an axis and `a fluid-reaction 'turbine movable about an axis against angular restraint responsive to momentum of iluid accelerated by said impeller, means supplying periodically-varying electric current, a synchronous 'electric motor energized -by said means and rotating said impeller at speeds "dependent upon the frequency of ysaid current `supplying means, an output shaft for producing a movement in accordance with the 4mass rate of ow, a servo motor positioning said output shaft, electric signal generating means responsive to movements of said duid reaction turbine and characterizing lack of correspondence between Ythe positions of said output shaft `and the angular orientations of said turbine about said turbine axis, compensating meansgconnected to said current supplying means and responsive to changes in the lposition of said fluid reaction turbine waboutfits axis producing output signals characterizing both the mass rate of said il'uid flow and the deviations of said frequency from a predetermined frequency, and means Acontrolling 'operation of said servo motor in accordance with the resultant of signals from said signal generating `means and said compensating means;

2. Flow measuring "apparatus comprising a mass flow detector having a rotatable `impeller for `accelerating all of a flowing fluid to :predetermined linear speeds about an axis and a fluid-reaction turbine movable about an axis against angular restraint responsive to momentuinof fluid f accelerated by said impeller, means supplying periodicallyvarying electric current, `a synchronous electric motor energized by said means'and rotating 'said impeller at speeds dependent upon the frequency Vof said current supplying means, an indicatorfforuproviding Tvan indication of mass rate of ilow, a servo motorpositioning said indicator, a iirst electric signal generator responsive to angular orientations of said turbine about said turbine axis, a second electric signal generator responsive to the positions of said indicator, frequency-sensitive means responsive to frequency of said current supplying means and producing electric output signals characterizing deviations of said frequency from a predetermined frequency, means responsive to the output of said second electrical signal generator regulating the magnitude of said electric output signals in accordance with the mass rate of said fluid flow, and means controlling operation of said servo motor in accordance with the resultant of the regulated output signals and the signals from said first and second signal generators.

3. VFlow measuring apparatus comprising a mass iiow detector having a rotatable impeller for accelerating all of a flowing duid to predetermined linear speeds about an axis .and Va fluid-reaction turbine movable about an axis againsta'ngular restraint responsive to momentum of fluid accelerated by said impeller, means supplying periodicallyvarying electric current, a synchronous electric 4motor energized by said means and rotating said impeller at speeds dependent upon the frequency of said current supplying means, an output shaft, a servo motor angularly positioning said output shaft, a iirst electric pick-off energizedvby said current supplying means and producing outputv signals of the frequency of said current supplying means and of amplitudes characterizing angular orientations of said turbine about` said tubrine axis, ai second electric pick-olf energized by said current supplying means and producing output signals of the frequency of said current supplying means and of amplitudes characterizing the angular orientations of said output shaft, a compensating electric circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency and excited by said current supplying means to produce output signals of the frequency of said `current supplying means and of amplitudes characterizing the differences between said predetermined frequency and the frequencies of said current supplying means, means operated by said.

output shaft for regulating the amplitude of said .v output signalsrfrom said compensating circuit, and a servo amplifier lexciting said lservo motor in response to the resultant -of said regulated signals from said regulating means and rsaid output signals from said first and second pick-offs. Y

4. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a mass flow detector having a rotatable impeller for accelerating all of a `iowing fluid to predetermined linear speeds about an axis yand a fluid-reaction turbine movable about an axisagainst angular restraint responsive to momentum o-f `iluid accelerated` by said impeller, means supplying periodically-varying electric current, a synchronous electric motor energized by said means and rotating `said impeller at speeds dependent upon the frequency of said current supplying means, an Aoutput shaft, a-servo vmotor angularly positioning said output shaft, a first electric pick-olf energized by said current `supplying means and producing output signals of the frequency of said current supplying means which characterize angular orientations of said turbine about said turbine axis, a second electric pick-olf energized by said current supplying means and producing output signals of the frequency of said current-supplying means which characterize the angular orientations of said output shaft, a compensating electric circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency and excited by said current supplying means to produce output signalsof the frequency of said current supplying :means lwhich -characterize the4 diiferencesfbetween ysaid predetermined frequency and the frequencies of said current supplying means, a potentiometer, means applying said compensating `circuit output signalsacross said potentiometer, means coupling Vsaid.-out-pu't shaft with said potentiometerito vary `the outputsignals tapped therefrom between zero and a maximum value in correspondence with orientations of said output shaft representing zero and maximum output of said apparatus, a servo amplifier controlling operation of said servo motor, means coupling said output signals from said rst and second pick-oifs opposition to provide net output signals characterizing lack of correspondence between said turbine and output shaft orientations, and means applying sai-d net output signals and said output signals tapped from said potentiometer to said servo amplifier as excitation therefor.

5. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a mass How detector for coupling into a fluid path having a rotatable impeller for accelerating all of a flowing duid to predetermined linear speeds about an axis and a fluid-reaction turbine movable about an axis against angular restraint responsive to momentum of fluid accelerated by said impeller, a iluid-driven turbine for coupling into said flow path, an alternating current generator rotated by said turbine, a synchronous electric motor energized by said generator and rotating said impeller at speeds dependent upon the frequencies of alternating current from said generator, an output shaft for producing a movement in accordance with the mass rate of ow, means comparing the angular orientations of said output shaft 7with the angular orientations of said turbine about said turbine axis and producing electrical signals characterizing the compared orientations, a frequency-sensitive compensator excited by said generator and producing an output of electrical signals characterizing differences between a predetermined'frequency and said generator frequencies, means responsive to changes in the position of said fluid reaction turbine about its axis regulating said compensator output signals in accordance with the mass rate of ilow measured by said detector, and servo motive means driving said output shaft responsive to said electrical signals lfrom said comparing means and to the regulated compensator signals.

6. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a mass ow detector `for coupling into a fluid flow path having a rotatable impeller for accelerating all of a flowing uid to predetermined linear speeds about an axis and a uidreaction turbine movable about an axis against angular restraint responsive to momentum of fluid accelerated by said impeller, a fluid-driven turbine for coupling into said ow path, an alternating current generator rotated by said uid-driven turbine, a synchronous electric motor energized by said generator and rotating said impeller at speeds dependent upon the yfrequencies of alternating current from said generator, an output shaft, a servo motor positioning said output shaft, electric signal generating means characterizing lack of correspondence between the positions of said output shaft and the angular orientations of said turbine about said fluid-reaction turbine axis, tuned electric circuit means excited by said generator and producing output signals characterizing deyiations of frequencies of said generator current from a predetermined frequency,'means operated by said output shaft vfor regulating the magnitude of said output signals `vfrom said tuned circuit means, and means exciting said servo motor in response to the resultant of said regulated output from said regulating means and the output `from said signal generating means. 7. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a mass low detector for coupling into a iluid ow path having a rotatable impeller for accelerating all of a flowing fluid fto predetermined linear speeds about an axis and a uidlreaction turbine movable about an axis against angular `restraint responsive to momentum of fluid accelerated by said impeller, a fluid-driven turbine for coupling into said ow path, an alternating current generator rotated by said fluid-driven turbine, a synchronous electric mo- -tor energized by said generator and rotating said impeller at speeds dependent upon the frequencies of alternating current from said generator, an indicator, a servo motor angularly positioning said indicator, a first electric pick-oif energized by said generator and producing output signals of the frequencies of the generator output which characterize-angular orientations of said uidreaction turbine about said turbine axis, a second electric pick-oif energized by said generator and producing output signals of said frequencies which characterize the angular orientations of said indicator, a compensating electric circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency and excited by said generator to produce output signals which characterize the differences between said predetermined frequency and the frequencies of said generator output, a potentiometer, means apply said compensating circuit output signals across said potentiometer, means coupling said indicator with said potentiometer to vary the potentiometer output signals between zero and a maximum value in accordance with angular orientations of said indicator between orientations representing zero and maximum output of said apparatus, a servo amplier controlling operation of said servo motor, means coupling said pick-offs in opposition to provide net output signals characterizing lack of angular correspondence between said turbine and indicator orientations, and means applying said net output signals and said potentiometer output signals to said servo amplifier as excitation therefor.

8. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller for accelerating fluid to be measured about an axis, an electric motor adapted to be energized from a source of periodically varying current connected to drive said impeller at a speed variable with the frequency of said current, a sensing member movable about an axis against angular restraint responsive to momentum of liuid accelerated by said impeller to indicate mass rate of flow of said fluid, an indicator, a servo system comprising a control circuit including output connections of electrical transmitter yand repeater pick-offs for positioning said indicator relative to a zero flow indicating position in accordance with the position of said sensing member, and compensating means to effect relative displacement between said sensing member and said indicator to compensate for flow indication errors caused by variations of the frequency of said source and lthe resulting speed variations of said motor, said compensating means comprising an electric signal generator having means varying the output of said signal generator in accordance with deviations in frequency of said source of periodically varying current from a predeterminedv value, regulating means additionally varying -the output of said signal generator in accordance with the displacement of said sensing member from said zero flow position, and means connecting said signal generator to said control circuit whereby said indicator is positioned in accordance with the combined outputs of said Itransmitter and repeater pick-offs and said electric signal generator.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

